Download the 2025 College Football Playoff 12-Team Bracket PDF

The College Football Playoff (CFP) wrapped up the 2025 season in dramatic fashion. Indiana, against the odds, finished as national champions.

This year was the debut of the 12-team bracket. The change added a whole new layer of chaos and excitement to college football.

Let’s get into how the teams got here, the wildest games, and what this new playoff format might mean for the sport going forward.

The Road to the Championship

The 2025 CFP bracket was finalized on December 7. First round games kicked off on December 19 and 20.

The new 12-team setup meant more chances for teams to make a run at the title. Honestly, it made things a lot less predictable.

First Round Highlights

The first round had some pretty intense matchups:

• No. 9 Alabama 34, No. 8 Oklahoma 24
• No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 10, No. 7 Texas A&M 3
• No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 11 Tulane 10
• No. 5 Oregon 51, No. 12 James Madison 34

Those games set up a quarterfinal round where the pressure really cranked up.

Quarterfinal Showdowns

The quarterfinals were played on December 31 and January 1. There were a few surprises:

• No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 24, No. 2 Ohio State 14
• No. 5 Oregon 23, No. 4 Texas Tech 0
• No. 1 Indiana 38, No. 9 Alabama 3
• No. 6 Ole Miss 39, No. 3 Georgia 34

Miami’s upset over Ohio State? That one had people buzzing for days. Just goes to show how wild the CFP can get.

Semifinal Thrillers

The semifinals, held on January 8 and 9, were everything fans hoped for. These games decided the final two.

Fiesta Bowl: Miami vs. Ole Miss

In the Fiesta Bowl, No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 31 slipped past No. 6 Ole Miss 27. It was a close one—Miami just barely hung on.

Peach Bowl: Indiana vs. Oregon

Meanwhile, in the Peach Bowl, No. 1 Indiana 56 steamrolled No. 5 Oregon 22. Indiana’s offense was on another level that night.

The National Championship Game

The big game was set for January 19. Indiana and Miami met at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Indiana vs. Miami

It was tight, but No. 1 Indiana 27 edged out No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 21. That’s Indiana’s first national championship in the CFP era.

Historical Context

Indiana’s win really stands out when you look at the recent history of national championship games:

• 2015: No. 4 Ohio State 42, No. 2 Oregon 20 (Arlington, Texas)
• 2016: No. 2 Alabama 45, No. 1 Clemson 40 (Glendale, Arizona)
• 2017: No. 2 Clemson 35, No. 1 Alabama 31 (Tampa, Florida)
• 2018: No. 4 Alabama 26, No. 3 Georgia 23 (Atlanta, Georgia)
• 2019: No. 2 Clemson 44, No. 1 Alabama 16 (Santa Clara, California)
• 2020: No. 1 LSU 42, No. 3 Clemson 25 (New Orleans, Louisiana)
• 2021: No. 1 Alabama 52, No. 3 Ohio State 24 (Miami Gardens, Florida)
• 2022: No. 3 Georgia 33, No. 1 Alabama 18 (Indianapolis, Indiana)
• 2023: No. 1 Georgia 65, No. 3 TCU 7 (Inglewood, California)
• 2024: No. 1 Michigan 34, No. 2 Washington 13 (Houston, Texas)
• 2025: No. 8 Ohio State 34, No. 7 Notre Dame 23 (Atlanta, Georgia)

Indiana now has their own piece of this ever-changing playoff story.

The Future of the 12-Team CFP Bracket

The 12-team bracket has already shaken things up. More teams in the mix means more chaos and, honestly, more fun.

Benefits of the Expanded Format

There are a few obvious upsides:

• More Opportunities: Teams that might’ve missed out before now get a shot at the title.
• Increased Excitement: More games, more upsets, more drama.
• Revenue Generation: More games also mean more money for schools, conferences, and the NCAA.

Looking Ahead

The 2026 CFP National Championship will be played on January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Fans are buzzing about the upcoming season. Everyone’s hoping for those jaw-dropping plays and maybe a few surprises that’ll stick in our memories.

If you need more details about the 2025 College Football Playoff, or you want the printable bracket, check out the official NCAA website.